Dr Michael Naughton to visit Armenia as part of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) British Horizons: British Professional Exchange Programme

13 January 2016

Dr Naughton is a Reader in Sociology and Law with a unique split role between the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS) and the Law School. He is a renowned academic expert on the causes and remedies of miscarriages of justice, with a particular focus of his research and wider activities on issues pertaining to the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of the factually innocent.

The thematic priorities of the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights and Democracy Programme Strategy are democratic processes, abolition of the death penalty, torture or other ill-treatment prevention.

More specifically, the Human Rights and Democracy Programme (HRDP) is the FCO’s dedicated annual fund supporting human rights and democracy work overseas. Through targeted projects, it aims to lift the capacity of governments and civil society to promote and protect human rights.

This initiative aims to connect experts from the UK with partner organisations in Armenia, which will see Dr Naughton partner with “Innocence Armenian Project” in Yerevan the first week in February, 1-6th, to deliver high-level professional training, exchange and public diplomacy in the domain of democracy building and human rights.

The planned itinerary for the visit will include the following meetings and other events:

Meeting with the Chairman and members of the Criminal Chamber of the Republic of Armenia Court of Cassation- Day 1

Meeting with the Chairman of the newly formed Genetic Division of the Republic of Armenia National Bureau of Expertise - Day 1

Meeting with the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs –Day 1

Meeting with the Republic of Armenia Ombudsman - Day 2

Meeting with the Republic of Armenia Minister of Justice - Day 2

Meeting with the Republic of Armenia Attorney General - Day 2

Round-table discussion with the representatives of concerned government agencies, NGOs - Day 3 (5 hours)

Cycling organized by young activists, wearing T-shirts with inscription "There are innocent people in prisons" - Day 4